Polarized Broad Hα Emission from the LINER Nucleus of NGC 1052

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Abstract
Optical spectropolarimetry of the nucleus of the LINER NGC 1052 obtained at the Keck Observatory reveals a rise in polarization in the wings of the Hα line profile. The polarization vector of Hα is offset by 67° from the parsec-scale radio axis and by 83° from the kiloparsec-scale radio axis, roughly in accord with expectations for scattering within the opening cone of an obscuring torus. The broad component of Hα has FWHM≈2100 km s-1 in total flux and FWHM≈5000 km s-1 in polarized light. Scattering by electrons is the mechanism most likely responsible for this broadening, and we find Te≈105 K for the scattering medium, similar to values observed in Seyfert 2 nuclei. This is the first detection of a polarized broad emission line in a LINER, demonstrating that unified models of active galactic nuclei are applicable to at least some LINERs.
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